PART A: BIOLOGICAL MONITORING

Activity Objective: Students will be able to conduct  biological sampling according to their sampling plan.

Estuary-Net Outcome Connection:

Students will understand water quality and the variables that contribute to water quality.

Students will understand the importance of gathering long-term  accurate data; will learn how to display the data; and will learn methods of  analyzing the data to determine relationships.

Students will understand their connection to and the importance of estuaries and the impact upland activities have on these systems.

Time Needed: Field trip.

Materials: As prescribed in sampling plan.

Procedure:

1. Recruit parent assistant to be at each sampling site with the site teams.
2. Assign roles to each student. It is recommended that teams of six be chosen  for each 50' sampling site. Together these students will select the replicate  sites within their sampling site (such as 3 high velocity and 3 low velocity sites for macroinvertebrate sampling). They can then work in sub-teams of three  to collect the stream data; one with net or quadrant with an assistant and one  with data sheets, buckets and marked sample jars. The data gatherer should be collecting habitat characteristics for each replicate site and drawing a sketch with replicate sample sites marked.
3. Use the field sheet for each sampling team (See sample field sheets at end of section) that will assure  all necessary data will be gathered.
4. Create a step by step procedure sheet for field use for each sample set to be taken (See sample field data sheet). Make copies for each sampling team. If possible, laminate copies to protect against  inclement weather and water splashes.
5. Review sampling procedures and create an equipment inventory for each  sampling team (See sample equipment list at end of section) to check before going into the field.
6. Number each piece of equipment. Check calibrations of all equipment prior to fieldwork against known samples or one standardized piece of equipment. Note any  variations from the standardization. This should be done for thermometers, hydrometers, etc.
7. Have each team prepare their field equipment, double-checking their  inventory, marking their sample jars and self-check procedures.
8. Review field safety and field trip itinerary.
9. Go sample!
10. After teams have gathered back together, have each one recheck their inventory prior to returning to school. Make sure all sample jars are clearly  marked and well secured.
11. Process samples in the field or at school following the procedures outlined  in the lab sheets and complete the data sheets.

 Continue on to Activity 2: Accuracy Counts

Return to Level 2